A study of autotrophic communities in two Victoria Land lakes (Continental Antarctica) using photosynthetic pigments

The composition of algal pigments and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was determined in microbial mats from two lakes in Victoria Land (Continental Antarctica) with different lithology and environmental features. The aim was to expand knowledge of benthic autotrophic communities in Antarctic lacustrine ecosystems, providing reference data for future assessment of possible changes in environmental conditions and freshwater communities. The results of chemical analyses were supported by microscopy observations. Pigment profiles showed that filamentous cyanobacteria are dominant in both lakes. Samples from the water body at Edmonson Point had greater biodiversity, fewer pigments and lower EPS ratios than those from the lake at Kar Plateau. Differences in mat composition and in pigment and EPS profile between the two lakes are discussed in terms of local environmental conditions such as lithology, ice-cover and UV radiation. The present study suggests that a chemical approach could be useful in the study of benthic communities in Antarctic lakes and their variations in space and time

Detection of IncP replicon-specific regions in DNA from Antarctic microbiota

Abstract Plasmids capable of horizontal transfer contribute to the adaptability of bacteria, as they may provide genes that enable their hosts to cope with different selective pressures. Only limited information is available on plasmids from Antarctic habitats, and up until now surveys have only used traditional methods of endogenous plasmid isolation. The method based on primer systems, designed on the basis of published sequences for plasmids from different incompatibility (Inc) groups, is appropriate to detect the replicon-specific regions of corresponding plasmids in cultured bacteria, or in total community DNA, which share sufficient DNA similarity with reference plasmids at the amplified regions. In this study, we applied broad-host-range plasmid-specific primers to DNA from microbial samples collected at six different locations in Northern Victoria Land (Antarctica). DNA preparations were used as targets for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification with primers for the IncP (trfA2) and IncQ (oriV ) groups. PCR products were Southern blotted and hybridized with PCR-derived probes for trfA2 and oriV regions. This approach detected the occurrence of IncP-specific sequences in eight out of fifteen DNA samples, suggesting a gene-mobilizing capacity within the original habitats

Leaf trapping and retention of particles by holm oak and other common tree species in Mediterranean urban environments

Holm oak (Quercus ilex), a widespread urban street tree in the Mediterranean region, is widely used as biomonitor of persistent atmospheric pollutants, especially particulate-bound metals. By using lab- and field-based experimental approaches, we compared the leaf-level capacity for particles’ capture and retention between Q. ilex and other common Mediterranean urban trees: Quercus cerris, Platanus × hispanica, Tilia cordata and Olea europaea. All applied methods were effective in quantifying particulate capture and retention, although not univocal in ranking species performances. Distinctive morphological features of leaves led to differences in species’ ability to trap and retain particles of different size classes and to accumulate metals after exposure to traffic in an urban street. Overall, P. × hispanica and T. cordata showed the largest capture potential per unit leaf area for most model particles (Na+ and powder particles), and street-level Cu and Pb, while Q. ilex acted intermediately. After wash-off experiments, P. × hispanica leaves had the greatest retention capacity among the tested species and O. europaea the lowest. We concluded that the Platanus planting could be considered in Mediterranean urban environments due to its efficiency in accumulating and retaining airborne particulates; however, with atmospheric pollution being typically higher in winter, the evergreen Q. ilex represents a better year-round choice to mitigate the impact of airborne particulate pollutants

Highly diverse urban soil communities: does stochasticity play a major role?

Urban soil biota can be surprisingly diverse and recent studies hypothesize that such biodiversity is partly due to stochastic community dynamics caused by fragmentation and high environmental variability. We aimed to quantify the relative effects of these factors on the community structure of soil oribatid mites inhabiting holm oak woodlands in two Mediterranean cities. We partitioned the community variation into fractions uniquely attributable to gradients in soil abiotic properties, pollution, microbiological properties, and spatial and temporal variation that could not be related to measured soil factors. As we found strong spatial structure at the local scales, a neutral model was fitted to test whether beta diversity patterns of relatively isolated communities were consistent with a purely stochastic assembly process. The overall diversity of the assemblage was remarkable: a total of 124 species were identified and rarefaction curves demonstrated that urban parks are as rich in species as their counterpart woodlands in suburban areas. The fraction of variation explainable in terms of soil properties, microbiology and pollution was statistically significant but surprisingly low. At the site scale, patterns of beta diversity (i.e. spatial turnover in species composition and relative abundances) were not significantly different from those predicted by neutral models. Stochastic models can parsimoniously predict background levels of urban soil biodiversity at local scales, while disturbance and environmental variation still play some significant but not major role at broader scales

Clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings at baseline predict long-term outcome of polymyalgia rheumatica: a multicentric retrospective study : Polymyalgia rheumatica predicted by ultrasonographic findings polymyalgia rheumatica outcome predicted early by ultrasound

To assess the rate of PMR who, during the follow-up, undergo a diagnostic shift as well as to assess which clinical, laboratory and US findings are associated to a diagnostic shift and predict the long-term evolution of PMR. All PMR followed-up for at least 12 months were included. According to the US procedures performed at diagnosis, patients were subdivided into four subgroups. Clinical data from follow-up visits at 12, 24, 48 and 60 months, including a diagnostic shift, the number of relapses and immunosuppressive and steroid treatment, were recorded. A total of 201 patients were included. During the follow-up, up to 60% had a change in diagnosis. Bilateral LHBT was associated with persistence in PMR diagnosis, whereas GH synovitis and RF positivity to a diagnostic shift. Patients undergoing diagnostic shift had a higher frequency of GH synovitis, shoulder PD, higher CRP, WBC, PLT and Hb and longer time to achieve remission, while those maintaining diagnosis had bilateral exudative LHBT and SA-SD bursitis, higher ESR, lower Hb and shorter time to remission. Cluster analysis identified a subgroup of older patients, with lower CRP, WBC, PLT and Hb, lower PD signal or peripheral synovitis who had a higher persistence in PMR diagnosis, suffered from more flares and took more GCs. Most PMR have their diagnosis changed during follow-up. The early use of the US is associated with a lower dosage of GCs. Patients with a definite subset of clinical, laboratory and US findings seem to be more prone to maintain the diagnosis of PMR

Aspetti metodologici del monitoraggio di inquinanti aerodiffusi persistenti mediante “MOSS-BAGS” di nuova generazione

I muschi, grazie alla loro elevata efficienza nell’accumulo di particolato atmosferico, sono considerati degli ottimi biomonitor. Una tecnica oramai diffusa prevede l’esposizione del materiale all’interno di reticelle, formando le cosiddette “moss-bags”, che possono essere distribuite sul territorio secondo schemi espositivi ottimali. Tra i principali limiti di questa tecnica si ricorda che il muschio viene raccolto in natura, e ciò ha un certo impatto ambientale, mentre l’operazione di preparazione delle bags presenta aspetti “artigianali” che rappresentano un serio handicap per la sua diffusione. Per ovviare a questi problemi un team di ricercatori europei ha sviluppato il progetto FP7 MOSSCLONE, che ha tra gli obiettivi anche quelli di (1) individuare e caratterizzare un muschio particolarmente performante per clonarlo, coltivarlo in condizioni controllate, e quindi usarlo come materiale di uso standard, dopo un processo di devitalizzazione; (2) ottimizzare le moss-bags per forma, taglia, ampiezza delle maglie della rete di contenimento e quantità di muschio, proponendo un prototipo di nuova concezione da sottoporre a brevetto internazionale; (3) standardizzare le condizioni di esposizione, in termini di altezza e durata di esposizione; (4) confrontare i dati ottenuti con le moss-bags di nuova generazione con i dati ottenuti con i metodi chimicofisici tradizionali. In questa sede si presentano i risultati del primo anno e mezzo di attività, in particolare quelli relativi ai punti (2) e (3), basati sull’esposizione di più di 250 bags di vecchia e nuova generazione per periodi di diversa durata, da 3 a un massimo di 12 settimane, in sette siti campani con diverso uso del suolo; ciò in attesa di avere a disposizione i dati relativi ad altre esposizioni condotte in due regioni europee climaticamente molto diverse, la Galizia e l’Austria orientale. Viene inoltre illustrato in prima nazionale il nuovo prototipo

Bevacizumab and Weekly Docetaxel in Patients with Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer Previously Exposed to Docetaxel

Background. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the activity and tolerability of docetaxel (D) and bevacizumab (Bev) in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) previously exposed to D. Methods. Treatment consisted of D 30 mg/m(2) i.v. for four consecutive weekly administrations followed by a 2-week rest interval, in addition to Bev 5 mg/kg i.v. every 2 weeks. Results. Forty-three patients were enrolled: a PSA response was observed in 27 patients (62.7%, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.91), and a palliative response was achieved in 31 patients (72.1%, 95%CI: 0.48 to 1.02). After a median followup of 11.3 months, only five patients had died. The regimen was generally well tolerated. Conclusion. Weekly D + biweekly Bev seems to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for patients with metastatic CRPC previously exposed to D-based chemotherapy

A follow-up study of heroin addicts (VEdeTTE2): study design and protocol

BACKGROUND: In Italy, a large cohort study (VEdeTTE1) was conducted between 1998–2001 to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments in reducing mortality and increasing treatment retention among heroin addicts. The follow-up of this cohort (VEdeTTE2) was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments on long-term outcomes, such as rehabilitation and social re-integration. The purpose of this paper is to describe the protocol of the VEdeTTE2 study, and to present the results of the pilot study carried out to assess the feasibility of the study and to improve study procedures. METHODS: The source population for the VEdeTTE2 study was the VEdeTTE1 cohort, from which a sample of 2,200 patients, traced two or more years after enrolment in the cohort, were asked to participate. An interview investigates drug use; overdose; family and social re-integration. Illegal activity are investigated separately in a questionnaire completed by the patient. Patients are also asked to provide a hair sample to test for heroin and cocaine use. Information on treatments and HIV, HBV and HCV morbidity are obtained from clinical records. A pilot phase was planned and carried out on 60 patients. RESULTS: The results of the pilot phase pointed out the validity of the procedures designed to limit attrition: the number of traced subjects was satisfactory (88%). Moreover, the pilot phase was very useful in identifying possible causes of delays and attrition, and flaws in the instruments. Improvements to the procedures and the instruments were subsequently implemented. Sensitivity of the biological test was quite good for heroin (78%) but lower for cocaine (42.3%), highlighting the need to obtain a hair sample from all patients. CONCLUSION: In drug addiction research, studies investigating health status and social re-integration of subjects at long-term follow-up are lacking. The VEdeTTE2 study aims to investigate these outcomes at long-term follow-up. Results of the pilot phase underline the importance of the pilot phase when planning a follow-up study